Fluid operated chimes

ABSTRACT

A NOVELTY DEVICE CHARACTERIZED BY THE PROVISION OF VERTICALLY ARRANGED CHAMBERS WITH OUTLETS IN COMMUNICATION WITH SUBJACENT CHAMBERS AND MOVABLE STRIKER ELEMENTS IN THE PATH OF FLUID FLOW FROM THE OUTLETS TO THE NEXT SUBJACENT CHAMBER. THE MOVABLE STRIKER ELEMENTS ARE PIVOTED TO THE CHAMBERS AND CHIME ELEMENTS ARE CONNECTED TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE DEVICE IN A POSITION TO BE ENGAGED BY THE MOVABLE STRIKER ELEMENTS AS THE STRIKER ELEMENTS MOVE RESPONSIVE TO RECEPTION OF A PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF FLUID.

Oct. 3, 1972 MCF'ARLAND 3,695,993

FLUID OPERATED CHIMES Filed Feb. 4, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet l a 2 1 g r 40 INVENTOR wPM/M 7. Mwwmw ATTORN EYS United States Patent 3,695,993 FLUID OPERATED CHIMES Norman T. McFarland, Urbana, 11]., assignor to Marvin Glass & Associates Filed Feb. 4, 1971, Ser. No. 112,683 Int. Cl. A63h 29/14 US. Cl. 161-7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to a novelty device.

Brief description of the prior art There are many forms of self-constructed novelty de vices in the art. Most such devices, which are to be assembled by a user are decorative in nature, but do not involve moving components. Those novelty devices which do incorporate moving components, either require a motor means for a power source, or free floating devices with random movement responsive to air currents or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of an improved novelty device which may be assembled by a user and which has movable components.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention includes the provision of vertically arranged basins or receiving chambers with a reservoir at the top thereof. Each of the reservoir and receiving chambers has outlets for feeding fluid from the reservoir to a lower subjacent basin and from the first basin to a second basin, and so forth. Hollow striker elements are pivoted to the sides of the basins and have open ends in the path of fluid flow to receive fluid as it passes from the reservoir through the several basins. Chime elements are suspended from the exterior of the reservoir and are positioned closely adjacent the hollow striker elements. As the striker elements fill with fluid, they pivot about their mounting with the basins and move to a position where they strike the chime elements and produce a pleasing audible sound.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the novelty device of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view of a portion of the novelty device of this invention showing the engagement between the movable striker elements and the chime elements of this invention.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the 3,695,993 Patented Oct. 3, 1972 principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The novelty device 10 of this invention includes the primary sub-components of a reservoir, generally indicated 12, receiving chambers, generally indicated 14 and 16, and a terminal reservoir, generally indicated 18. As shown in FIG. 1, preferably the reservoir, receiving chambers and terminal reservoir are oriented in vertical tandem array. The novelty device further includes first sound producing elements, or striker elements, generally indicated 20, 22, and 24, and second sound producing elements, or chimes, generally indicated 26, 27 and 28. As will be explained in detail, it is intended that fluid supplied to the reservoir 12 will flow through the several receiving chambers 14 and 16 to the terminal reservoir 18, and, during such flow, will be intermittently received in the strikers 20, 22 and 24, causing the strikers to pivot and strike the chime elements 26, 27 and 28 thereby producing a pleasing audible sound.

The reservoir 12 is defined by circular cylindrical side walls 30 and has an open top 32 and a generally conical bottom 34 defining a chamber 304: to the interior thereof. The bottom 34 terminates in a generally centrally oriented Opening 36 which is substantially at the apex of the cone that defines the bottom. The opening 36 provides an outlet for flow of fluid from the reservoir. An annular channel 38 is formed on the underside of the conical bottom 34 near the periphery thereof. In addition, the reservoir is provided with a radial flange 40 extending outwardly from the open top 32 which provides a decorative and supportive function as will be explained later.

Each receiving chamber 14 and 16 includes a cylindrical cage 42 including an upper annular rim 44, having an inwardly offset upwardly extending annular tongue 44a, and a lower annular rim 46, having an inwardly offset downwardly extending annular tongue 46a. A portion of the rim 46 may be provided with an upwardly extending striker element supporting tab 47. Upright ribs 48 are circumferentially spaced about the cage 42 and hold the upper and lower rims 44 and 46 in spaced relationship to each other. Preferably, the upper and lower rims 44 and 46 and the annular tongues 44a and 46a are identical so that they may be assembled as a component of the novelty device 10 in one of two positions. Thus, the rim 46 could be oriented as the top rim, and the rim 44 as the lower rim.

Each of the receiving chambers 14 and 16 is further provided with a basin or conical bottom 50. Basin 50 includes an annular rim 52 which is interposed between rims 46 of the upper adjacent cage 42 and rim 44 of the lower subjacent cage 42. The rim 52 is provided with an upwardly facing annular channel 54a and a lower facing annular channel 54]) to matingly receive the annular tongue 46a of the upper adjacent cage 42 and the annular tongue 44a of the lower subjacent cage 42 so that the basin 50 may be assembled therebetween. The basin or conical bottom 50 is provided with a generally centrally oriented opening 56 which provides an outet for fluid flow from the receiving chamber. In the exemplary embodiment, the openings 36 and 56 are coaxially oriented.

The terminal reservoir 18 is spaced from the vertically adjacent basin 56 by another spaced element 42 and includes a generally flat bottom 60 and cylindrical side walls 62. The flat bottom 60 provides a means for supporting the entire novelty device on a generally horizontal supporting surface and preferably, is slightly wider than the width or diameter of the other chambers or portions of the novelty device. The flat bottom 60 and cylindrical side wall 62 define together a hollow fluid receiving chamber 62a for receiving fluid which has flowed through the several openings 36 and 56 and from the temporary collection in the several striker elements 20, 22 and 24.

The upper portion of the side walls 62 supports an annular rim 64 having a radially inwardly directed portion 64a and a radially outwardly extending portion 64b. The radially inwardly directed portion terminates in a large opening 66, generally of the same diameter as the interior diameter of the other chambers. Adjacent the opening 66, the inwardly directed portion 64a has an upwardly facing annular channel 60a for receiving a downwardly facing annular tongue such as the tongue 46a of rim 46 of the next adjacent cage 42 to hold the same in assembled relationship therewith. The radially outwardly directed portion 64b provides a means for grasping the storage chamber when lifting the same to pour collected fluid outwardly therefrom.

Each of the first sound producing elements or striker elements 20, 22 and 24, is generally in the shape of an elongated sleeve or cylinder 72 having a hollow interior 72a. Each striker element has one open end 74 defined by the intersection of a plane at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of each of the striker elements. The body of the sleeve 72 is provided with a notch 74 for pivotally mounting the striker element on a tab 47. Preferably, this notch is off-center relative to the length of the sleeve 72, and located closer to the open end 74, so that normally the open end 74 is pointed upwardly and underlies the fluid outlet or opening 56 or 36 of the vertically adjacent reservoir or chamber. Thus, as water flows out of the vertically adjacent outlet, through the opening 74 of the striker element, it will collect in the forward portion thereof, with the notch 76 acting as a darn or barrier to hold the limited quantity of water in the forward portion until such time as a sufficient quantity of fluid or water has been collected to cause the striker element to pivot about its mounting with the tab 47 and thereby spill its contents downwardly toward the basin 50 or the terminal reservoir.

Each of the second sound producing elements or chimes, 26, 27 and 28 includes a generally elongated cylindrical sleeve 80 having an open top 80a, an open bottom 80b and a hollow interior 80c. Strand means 82 holds each of the sleeves 80 in suspension from the flange 40 of the reservoir 12. Each sleeve is mounted so as to be in overlying relationship to one of the strikers and spaced only slightly thereabove. The strand means 82 includes secondary strand means 82a which supports the sleeve with the primary strand means extending through the sleeve to support a swingable clapper element 84 which extends partially outwardly of the open bottom 80b.

In use, the novelty device may be assembled by orienting the several cage elements 42 and intervening basin elements 50 in interfitting relationship with the lowermost cage connected to the storage chamber and With the reservoir supported on the uppermost cage. Fluid, such as water, may be added to the chamber 30a of the reservoir 12. The water will slowly flow outwardly from the outlet 36 and, in the path of its fluid flow, it will be temporarily collected in the interior 72a of striker element until such time as sufficient water is collected in the forward portion thereof to cause the striker element 20 to tilt downwardly. This will simultaneously cause the collected fluid to spill outwardly into the basin 50 while the opposite end strikes the lower portion of freely suspended chime 26. This will cause the clapper element 84 to strike the side walls of the sleeve 80, creating an audible sound and such sound will continue for as long as the chime swings in pendulum-like fashion responsive to the engagement of the striker element 20.

Fluid will flow through the outlet 46 from receiving chamber 14 into the open end 74 of the striker element 22 and the action will be repeated with striker element 22 engaging chime 27. The fluid will then fall into the basin 50 of chamber 16 and outwardly through outlet 56 into the open end of chime 24 with the action being repeated and with striker element 24 engaging chime 28, following which the fluid will be dumped into the terminal reservoir 18. As the fluid continues to flow the collecting and tilting action of the striker elements and the ringing action of the several chime elements will be substantially continuous until such time as the flow of fluid has been terminated. Following this, the device may be partially disassembled by removing the storage chamber from the bottom thereof and the fluid collected therein may be deposited in another receptacle, the device reassembled and fluid again added to the reservoir chamber 12 to repeat the action described.

Thus, it can be seen that the novelty device of this invention is one which can be assembled by a user wherein components thereof are movable in response to the action of the device. The action is initiated by the provision of a common fluid, such as water, and does not involve the use of motors or the like for motor power. In addition to the motion which is created during the use of the device, there is the further advantage of the provision of the pleasing audible sounds which are produced by the engagement of the striker elements with the chime elements and the continued swinging of the chime elements responsive to this engagement.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A novelty device comprising a fluid reservoir having a fluid outlet for permitting fluid flow from the reservoir; a receiving chamber in the path of fluid flow from the reservoir; a first sound producing element movably mounted to the receiving chamber and having a fluid receiving portion in the path of fluid flow and being adapted for movement responsive to receiving a predetermined quantity of fluid; a second sound producing element spaced from the first sound producing element and positioned in the path of movement of the first sound producing element for engagement of said first and second sound producing elements responsive to reception of a predetermined quantity of fluid by said first sound element.

2. The novelty device of claim 1 wherein a plurality of receiving chambers are provided, each having a fluid outlet with succeeding receiving chambers being positioned in the path of fluid flow from the preceding fluid outlet.

3. The novelty device of claim 2 including a terminal reservoir positioned in the path of fluid flow from the last receiving chamber for holding fluid fed from said reservoir through the several receiving chambers.

4. The novelty device of claim 3 wherein the fluid reservoir receiving chambers and terminal reservoir are vertically oriented relative to each other for gravity flow of fluid through the novelty device to the terminal reservo1r.

5. The novelty device of claim 1 wherein the first sound producing element is pivoted to the receiving chamber with the fluid receiving portion normally oriented upwardly so that the first sound producing element will pivot downwardly responsive to receiving a predetermined quantity of fluid with the opposite end thereof engaging the second sound producing element.

6. The novelty device of claim 5 wherein the second sound producing element is suspended from the fluid reservoir.

8. The novelty device of claim 5 wherein the first sound producing element receiving portion is trough-like in configuration.

8. The novelty device of claim 7 wherein the receiving chamber has generally centrally located fluid outlet positioned below the fluid receiving portion of the first sound producing element.

9. The novelty device of claim 8 wherein the second sound producing element is a chime element which is swingably suspended from the fluid reservoir.

10. The novelty device of claim 4 wherein a plurality of first and second sound producing elements are provided with each first sound producing element being pivoted to a receiving chamber with the fluid receiving portion normally oriented upwardly so that the first sound producing element will pivot downwardly responsive to receiving a quantity of fluid; and wherein the plural second sound producing elements are chime members which are freely suspended from the exterior of the fluid reser- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1915 Peterson 40-39 4/ 1959 Konikson 40--37 X 10 WILLIAM A. POWELL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 46-41 

